Winkelshoek Wynkelders

The story of Schenkfontein is really the story of the Hanekom family and the farm Winkelshoek, a property that has been in their hands for a century in the sun-baked hills north of Piketberg in the Swartland. It began in 1904 when newly married J.C.H. (Jan) Hanekom obtained lease rights on Winkelshoek and began farming tobacco. Gradually he turned to grapes, and by 1918 he had set up a small cellar and purchased nine wine barrels from cooper F.S. Smith. The location -- hot, with grapes achieving high sugars -- proved ideal for the sweet wine cultivars that would become the family's calling card.

Jan's descendants expanded the operation. In 1954, H.A.C. Hanekom Sr. founded Winkelshoek Wine Cellars (Pty) Ltd as a wholesale liquor company. The family's renowned fortified wines, made to a closely guarded "soetwyn" recipe passed down through generations, became a regional institution.

The Schenkfontein chapter began on 9 December 1992 when Hennie Hanekom, a lifelong farmer, purchased a portion of the original Winkelshoek family farm -- known as Winkelshoek Portion C -- and set out on a venture of his own. The 23-hectare vineyard is planted with Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, Colombar and Muscat de Alexandrie.

It was the next generation that brought Schenkfontein into the modern era. Brothers Hendrik and Philip Hanekom -- Hendrik as winemaker, Philip handling marketing and sales -- produced the first certified wines under the Schenkfontein label in 2014. While their grandfather's soetwyn recipe remains in production, the brothers have made it their mission to take the brand beyond dessert wine.

The Schenkfontein range is a tribute to the farm itself, while the Weskus range -- with its modern, easy-going packaging -- is an ode to the relaxed West Coast lifestyle, offering six approachable varietals. A Grenache Blanc has been a notable addition.

The Winkelshoek Thatched Roof Complex alongside the N7 highway serves as the tasting and sales venue, open Monday to Friday 08:00-17:00 and Saturday 08:00-13:00. It is a convenient stop on the road to Piketberg, offering visitors a taste of one of the Swartland's most colourful multi-generational wine stories.